Setting Weight Loss Goals
However, if you do not have realistic exercise goals you can become disappointed and quit an exercise program. The first step to setting realistic goals is being truthful about how much weight you want to lose. The goal you set should be realistic and reasonable. In addition, you should have a standard in your goal setting. This means your goal should be something you can measure and attain. Your exercise goal should be based as much on how you feel as by what you think you should weigh or look like. Maybe you have certain clothing that you would like to fit back into. That is not an unreasonable goal. However, dropping eight dress sizes in four months might be an unreasonable weight loss exercise goal.
If you don't eat frequently enough, your body thinks there is an emergency food shortage and it goes into "fat storage" mode. Not only do you stop burning fat... But you lose muscle mass, your energy levels get zapped, and your body becomes a permanently programmed "fat storing machine", making it ten times harder to get results. The key is to work WITH your body, NOT against it! You just have to eat the right things, at the right times. That's important, because the #1 reason people get derailed on their way to losing body fat is not knowing what to eat.
The appropriate guideline for exercise programs is to try to lose about two pounds a week. You can easily find weight loss calculators and BMI calculators on the Internet which can help you find a target weight loss goal for a week. However, keep in mind that if you do use these tools that these calculations are not personalized and they are only estimations. For instance, your weight may be comprised of a lot of muscle instead of fat. You would not want to lose muscle, no matter what a weight loss exercise tool may tell you. A proper plan will have you go into a calorie deficit. This means you will be burning more calories that you eat per day. This is what will make you shed unwanted pounds. Through diet and exercise it is possible to lose weight without starving yourself or working your body in an unhealthy manner. SETTING YOUR GOALS Once you know how much weight you want to lose, you should set your weekly exercise goals accordingly. For instance if you want to lose 30 pounds you should plan to have a weekly weight loss of around three pounds per week. At this rate you can easily drop those 30 unwanted pounds in ten weeks! There may be times when you will have to adjust your exercise goals. If you are not losing weight as fast you would like you can change your goal weight or extend the length of time you have to reach your goal weight. It is important that you do not box yourself into a corner and be rigid about your goal. If you are, the chances are high that you will be discouraged and quit. Another thing that should be kept in mind when planning an exercise program that is attainable is to not push yourself physically. Many people start out a program and try to conquer machines or workouts that are too intense and difficult. This is a major pitfall for many people who are trying to lose weight. After the first few days they become overwhelmed and quit. Allow your body time to adjust to physical activity and gradually increase the intensity and type of workout you are doing gradually as your body adjust and becomes stronger. Don’t sabotage yourself out of the gate.
By following these tips and setting proper and attainable goals for yourself you should see success in your weight loss exercise program.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to "diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
|
